Retailers such as J.C. Penney, Target and Gap are recognizing that they’re at a crucial crossroads for their companies. As a result, boards are appointing traditional CEOs known more for their accomplishments at traditional brands, rather than recruiting leaders known for being visionaries or inclined to take creative merchandising risks.
All eyes are now on these organizations to see whether this new generation of CEOs—with their proven operational abilities and command of incremental improvements rather than sweeping paradigm changes—is up to the task of carrying their companies through a weak sales period.
The latest case in point is J.C. Penney. The big box retailer turned to traditional-retailing veteran Marvin Ellison—the executive vice president of U.S. stores for Home Depot—as its next CEO. After a long transition, Ellison will replace current Penney CEO Myron Ullman, who has been trying without success to stabilize and revitalize the iconic soft-goods retailer during his second tenure as chief.
“The selection of Marvin Ellison builds upon Penney’s need for operating effectiveness and Ellison’s record of operating” at Home Depot, said Joseph Pastore Jr., a Pace University business professor. “It also re-affirms the fundamental principle for performance in mass retailing: low margins/high volume based upon cost-effective, low price, nationally branded product offerings.”
The Wall Street Journal called Ellison’s recruitment part of “a broader shift in retail in which some big companies have favored detail-oriented operators over executives mainly lauded for brilliance in merchandising, as the industry faces giant new challenges in managing its supply chains and keeping customers from defecting to the web.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
